Umbrella construction



July 3, 1962 B. TODOROVIC UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 4, 1959 Bogdan Todorow'c 1N VEN TOR.

July 3, 1962 B. TODOROVIC UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledSept. 4, 1959 Fig. 3

Bogdan Todoro w'c ZNVENTOR.

Fig. 7 C54 32 United States Patent 3,042,055 UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTIONBogdan Todorovic, Santa Monica, Calif. (10763 Wilshire Blvd., LosAngeles 24, Calif.) Filed Sept. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 838,134 4 Claims. (Cl.13520) This invention relates to umbrellas and more particularly to aneccentric umbrella.

Although eccentric umbrellas are known in the art, and the'advantagesfully appreciated in a number of instances, an object of the inventionis to provide new improvements in the eccentric type of umbrella whichmakes such an umbrella practical. Briefly, the umbrella in accordancewith the invention employs a number of extensible stretchers togetherwith some conventional stretchers, and strings to reinforce theconventional stretchers whereby a sturdy and dependable eccentricumbrella results.

Prior eccentric umbrellas have each had certain failings, making themuncommon at the present time. The eccentric umbrella in accordance withthe invention is capable of smooth easy operation and is verydependable, providing additional strength and support where it isnecessary in such an umbrella due to unbalance loading, e.g. windloading.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view (cover omitted) of an eccentric umbrella inaccordance with the invention, this view showing the umbrella in theopen position.

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional view of the umbrella in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view of the umbrella in FIGURE 2 butshowing the umbrella in the partially closed position.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an extensible stretcherused in the umbrella.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the stretcher in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the stretcher in the retractedposition.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

In the accompanying drawings there is an eccentric umbrella 10constructed in accordance with the invention. This eccentric umbrellahas a handle 11 or the like at the lower end of shaft 12, and there is aconventional spider 14 at or near the tip of shaft 12. The cover for theumbrella (not shown) may be of any conventional, flexible substancesuitable for umbrella construction. Slide 16 is mounted on shaft 12, andthe latches for the open and closed position have been omitted sincethey, too, are conventional.

A ten rib umbrella is illustrated, although the number may be increasedor decreased. The ribs are, by and large, conventional with theexception that some of the ribs 20 are longer than the others in orderthat the handle and shaft are eccentrically positioned with reference tothe umbrella. For a ten rib umbrella, five conventional stretchers maybe used. The stretchers are pivoted at their ends to slide 16 and toribs 20 respectively. However, reinforcing cords 24, 25 and 26 areattached, for example by short ears having apertures, to two of thelongest ribs and to one of the conventional stretchers 22a therebetween.For example, cord 25 is secured to rib 20c; ribs 20a and 20b have cords24 and 26 secured thereto, while the inner ends of the cords areattached to 3,042,055 Patented July 3, 1962 stretcher 22a therebet-ween.This organization provides the necessary strength when the umbrella isin the elevated and open position, but yet, the umbrella is capable ofbeing lowered as shown in FIGURE 3.

Five stretchers 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 are made extensible, and they arepivotally secured at their inner ends to slide 16 and pivotallyconnected at their outer ends to the shorter ribs of the umbrella frame.Typical extensible stretcher 32 is shown in detail in FIGURES 4-7. It ismade of three parts. These parts consist of outer tube 38, an inner tube40, and an innermost rod 42, all slidably related. Rod 42 has an eye 43at one end by which to facilitate pivotal connection with slide 16, andthere is an eye 43 at the outer end of the inner tube 40 to facilitatepivotal connection With one of the ribs. Cross member 44 on the rod ispassed through an aperture 46 in the base 50 of inner tube 40. Innertube 40 is slidably disposed in outer tube 38, and there are alignedslots 54 and 56 formed through the side walls of tubes 38 and 40respectively. The member 44 extends through the pairs of slots onopposite sides of inner and outer tubes 40 and 38 respectively wherebythe member 44 prevents the tubes from rotating with respect to eachother. Actually, rod 42 and tube 40 constitutes an extensible link, andthe purpose of outer tube 38 is to constrain the motion of tube 38 androd 42 by having member 44 slidable in the aforementioned slot 54 and56.

In use, it is assumed that the umbrella is in the closed or partiallyclosed position (FIG. 3). Slide 16 is moved up shaft 12 thereby causingthe conventional stretchers to open the umbrella. At the same time theextensible stretchers 3034 are capable of becoming retracted (FIG- URE2), and in the retracted position, the length thereof is calculated tobe the correct, design length for the eccentric umbrella configuration.When they are fully retracted, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, extensiblestretchers 30-34 each forms a solid link.

As the umbrella frame approaches the completely opened position, cords24 and 26 which are made of strong lightweight material, for instancenylon cord, hold the abnormally long ribs in proper position withreference to their stretchers and reinforce the conventional stretchers.

When the umbrella is closed the reverse procedure takes placeautomatically upon lowering slide 16 on shaft 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An eccentric umbrella which has a shaft, a slide mounted on the shaftand means adjacent to the end of the shaft by which to form a pivotmount, a plurality of longer ribs and a plurality of shorter ribspivoted at their inner ends to said mount, a plurality of elongatedstretchers connected between the mid-portions of said longer ribs and tosaid slide, extensible elongated stretchers connected to said shorterribs and to said slide, said extensible stretchers including memberswhich are extensibly connected together and which when retracted fullyform a solid link, and a reinforcing flexible elongate member connectedto a mid-portion of at least one of said longer ribs outwardly of itsconnection to the corresponding stretcher and to a mid-portion of atleast one of the stretchers connected with one of said longer ribs.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the inner end of said flexibleelongate member is connected to one of said longer ribs other than theone to which said elongate flexible member is secured.

3. An eccentric umbrella having a shaft, a slide mounted on said shaft,a plurality of ribs, means pivotally mounting an end of each of saidribs to the upper end of said shaft for movement of said ribs betweendepending forward positions circumferentially spaced about said shaftand extended positions extending substantially radially of and outwardlyfrom said shaft, a plurality of elongated short and long stretcherspivotally secured at one end to said ribs and at the other end to saidslide, said short stretchers being extensible and substantially fullycollapsed when in the extended positions and at least partiallycontracted when in the folded position, some of said ribs being shortand some of said ribs being long, said short and long stretchers beingpivotally secured to said short and long ribs respectively, a reinforc-References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS690,342 Anderson Dec. 31, 1901 1,613,287 Moser Jan. 4, 1927 2,700,390Poston et al Jan. 25, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 415,176 France July 6, 1910

